Annie Feidt, APRN – Anchorage
Hundreds of South Anchorage High School students stayed home from school today because of violent threats from a fellow student. Wednesday is the 12th anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting. Earlier this month, a student circulated rap song lyrics that graphically describe carrying out a deadly massacre at South Anchorage High. Anchorage School District Superintendent Carol Comeau says as soon as the school learned about the song, the boy was placed on a 45 day suspension. The district is now recommending he be expelled. Comeau says it’s not unusual to have these types of threats around the Columbine anniversary.
The school had an increased police presence in the building Wednesday. The mother of one boy who is singled out in the song lyrics circulated an e-mail yesterday expressing concern that the student who wrote the song isn’t locked up at McLaughlin Youth Center. Lisa Connors also says her son has been targeted by the student all year long. She says she wishes the school district had taken action sooner.
Connors says her son traveled out of state because he was so traumatized by the incident. Comeau says the police investigated the incident, but the student who wrote the lyrics is still at home with his parents. Comeau says she understands the family’s concerns.
The school district is holding a meeting for parents and students on Friday at 6:30. Comeau wants to make sure they feel their kids are safe at school. She says since the Columbine school shooting, the district has had extraordinary support from the Anchorage Police Department whenever students make threats against classmates or teachers.
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